Course overview

CAD: Solidworks Intermediate City of Bristol College

Next steps in using Dassault’s CAD/CAM 3D parametric modeller.

This is a flexi-course, which you can start at any time. It continues from the Solidworks Essentials course, teaching you the next steps of how to use Solidworks. That includes how to create more involved 3D models and associated 2D drawings.

Alternatively, you may already know some Solidworks, but want to expand your abilities. This course will teach you how to be more productive and tackle more complex modelling projects.

Additional information

Who is this course for?

This course is for those looking to expand their basic abilities with Solidworks. It will help enhance your abilities on the use of solids, surfaces, multibodies, configurators, drawings, sheet metal and assemblies within Solidworks.

What you'll learn

During this course, you will step up to learn the tools and techniques which represent the intermediate level of using Solidworks. You will cover subjects such as sketching, creating multibody parts and flex bending. You will also cover surfaces and patches, lofts and boundaries and the assembly of motions and mates.

Course entry requirements

To join this course you need to have experience of Solidworks at a basic level, perhaps from our essentials course or from industry and an enthusiasm for learning more about the programme.

It will help if you have an understanding of industrial/product design or engineering and/or know about other 3D CAD/CAE/CAM programs.

You will need a working understanding of English and Maths and the ability to use Windows-based computers confidently.

Entry interview

You need to attend an interview – in person or by phone. Phone interviews can be arranged, as necessary; call 0117 3122703 or email CAD@cityofbristol.ac.uk.

If you want a college-based, in-person interview, sessions are on Wednesdays at the College Green Centre, during term time, in room 6E22H, at 16:00.

You do not need to book, just sign in at reception and allow upwards of an hour, just in case you visit us at a busy time. Other times can be arranged, simply call or email as above.

How is the course delivered and assessed?

This course is a flexi-course which allows you to attend college as and when you can. Once enrolled, you can tailor your course timing to suit your needs. The course takes around 90 hours to complete, which must be done within a year of starting – how quickly is up to you.

At the end of the course, you will be assessed through the creation of your own intermediate Solidworks project. When successfully completed, you will receive a College Certificate to confirm your achievement.

Future career and study opportunities

After successfully completing this course, you will be able to use Solidworks at an intermediate level, now being more productive and efficient with the software.

This could help you start on a career that requires the ability to create technical drawings from 3D models, which could be in a variety of fields, or generally improve your prospects for progression within the field your in, or facilitate a move into product design/mechanical engineering.

You can progress onto other CAD courses on offer. We recommend CAD: Solidworks Advanced. If you want to learn similar programs by other companies try Inventor, or Fusion360.

Additional costs

There are no required additional costs for this course beyond the course fee – call / email to find out the fee.

Enrolment on the course entitles you to download a free copy of Solidworks, for educational purposes, from Dassault. It is assumed that you already have a suitable computer to use this on. If you can’t / don’t want to use the College’s CAD Windows computers, Mac computers can be used, simply call / email for further information.

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